Fiber container and locking rim therefor



June 19, 1962 CARPENTER, sR 3,039,666

FIBER CONTAINER AND LOCKING RIM THEREFOR Original Filed June 4, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ween-2r 4. CJ/PPA'A'IZ-B, s2.

June 19, 1962 H. CARPENTER, SR 3,039,666

FIBER CONTAINER AND LOCKING R IM THEREFOR Original Filed June 4, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. fill-PEEP? Z. CIPPE/VTEIjSk,

ga azd JTTOR/YEYS June 19, 1962 H. CARPENTER, SR 3,039,666

FIBER CONTAINER AND LOCKING RIM THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed June 4, 1956 United States Patent 0 3,039,666 FIBER CONTAINER AND LOCKENG RIM THEREFOR Herbert L. Carpenter, Sr., Amityviile, N.Y., assignor to The Greif Bros. Cooperage Corporation, Delaware, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Original application June 4, 1956, Ser. No. 589,025. Divided and this application Dec. 18, 1959, Ser. No.

3 Claims. (Cl. 2295.7)

This invention relates to an improved fiber drum, and more particularly to a fiber drum having a structurally and functionally improved closure assembly. This application is a division of my application Serial Number 589,025, filed June 4, 1956, and now abandoned.

Fiber drums and similar containers are usually made from convolutely or spirally wound laminated layers of fibrous material, as for example kraft paper. They are generally employed in shipping and storing a variety of materials and articles such as raw materials, bulk chemicals, munitions, sensitive instruments, including electronic tubes and the like.

These fiber drums and containers are frequently subjected to rough handling, especially during their period of use. In this connection, they are often dropped from the tailboard of a truck or shipping platform, and may even have other containers and articles dropped upon them during such period of handling. In addition, loaded containers are frequently stacked one upon another, thereby placing an additional stress upon their walls, particularly those of the lowermost containers. Under such circumstances, fiber drums and containers must be of strong, sturdy construction and capable of withstanding the abuse to which they are subjected in shipment and storage.

Many of the cylindrical fiber drums and containers, having transversely circular cross-sections as were heretofore available, have been sufficiently strong to withstand misuse and abuse. However, these cylindrical drums and containers have the inherent disadvantage of being rather uneconomical in their space requirements. Thus, in shipment and storage there is necessarily a considerable amount of waste space between the cylindrical sides of adjacent drums of this type, and as such drums are stacked one upon another, this space is unduly multiplied. Inevitably, an appreciable amount of waste material additionally results from the manufacture of the bottom closures and heads for such fiber drums and containers.

Non-cylindirical containers having a plurality of sides, as for instance rectangular containers, as relatively efficient in their utilization of shipping and storage space since they may be placed in a substantially contiguous relationship with minimum space wasted between their neighboring sides. However, other difiiculties and disadvantages are unfortunately encountered with containers having this substantially rectangular configuration. Thus, these containers generally possess insufficient strength to withstand the use and abuse normally encountered during the contemplated shipment and storage. In this connection, there is a tendency for the sides of these rectangular fiber containers to become transversely concave and consequently collapse inwardly when subjected to stresses and strains imparted and experienced under such conditions. As a result of the developed concave contour of the sides, it is extremely difiicult to maintain a satisfactory and relatively tight seal between the head or closure and the body of the container. A danger of content contamination, as well as inevitable sifting and loss of certain types of container content, may accordingly be encountered.

It is an object of my present invention to overcome the difficulties heretofore encountered in the fiber drum and container field, and accordingly provide an improved fiber drum, having convex sides and rounded corners, with a locking rim for a closure or head so that: stresses and strains normally encountered in shipment and storage can be withstood; as a result of an improved rugged and strong construction, storage and shipping space is efiiciently utilized because of the minimum waste space between the sides of adjacent drums of this type; and the drums are readily opened and closed, easy to seal as well as reseal, and are filled and dispensed expeditiously.

It is another object to provide an improved closure assembly for such drums employing a locking rim such that a closure or head may be readily applied and removed, but at the same time firmly held against accidental opening or displacement so that content pollution and contamination is effectively minimized.

It is a further object to provide an improved locking rim for such drums of simple, rugged construction and which may be readily manipulated when it is desired to open and close the drum and firmly as well as securely held in its closed position.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of my invention which is to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating a practical embodiment thereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a drum and closure assembly embodying the teachings of my invention in which the improved locking rim is in a closed position;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 2'2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the association of the locking rim with the drum and its head;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the line 44- of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the association of the improved locking rim of my invention with a drum and a drum closure;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective View of the construction illustrated in FIG. 1 prior to the assembly of the head and locking rim to the drum;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the drum parts illustrated in FIG. 7 with the head associated with the drum and the looking rim illustrated both by phantom and solid line in the process of being mounted on the drum to secure the head thereto;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view substantially similar to FIG. 3 with the inclusion of a liner for providing a hermetic seal between the container and its closure head;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view substantially similar to FIG. 6 with the inclusion of a sealing liner and gasket for providing a hermetic seal between the closure and the container.

In carrying out my invention I have found that fiber drum 10 is relatively efficient in its use of space and, at the same time, sturdy and strong. Thus, the fiber drum 1'9 embodies 'a body having a plurality of sides, preferably four, which are transversely convex and connected together by rounded corners. It should be understood that drums having different numbers of sides can be employed by adopting the principles of my invention and accordingly be efficiently stored in contiguous relationship and possess the optimum characteristics of the illustrated drum. Each of the sides of my drum are transversely convex so that the sides bow outwardly. By forming the sides in this manner, I eliminate the tendency of the sides to bow inwardly and thus collapse as is the case with respect to rectangular fiber drums. This greatly increases the strength of the drum body or shell by attenuating and square or concave side walls, force applied to the corners or side walls will cause flexure of the side walls in an inward direction and, consequently, reduce the tightness and effectiveness of such container closure.

The degree of curvature of the convex side walls may :be varied considerably. As the degree of curvature increases, their elficiency in the use of space decreases since greater waste space will be inevitable between the side walls of shells stored in contiguous relationship. On the'other hand, the radius of curvature of the side walls should be selected so that they will be capable of adequately accepting the contemplated loads and pressure.

-In this connection, it may be desirable to increase the thickness of these side walls in an effort to maintain the radius of curvature at a maximum. I have found that as the size of the container increases, optimum results are obtainable by merely thickening the side walls instead of decreasing their radius of curvature. Thus, the radius of curvature of the side walls of the contemplated sizes of drums will not difier appreciably, but their thickness will range between definite practical limits.

Additionally, I have found that the side walls should be integrally connected together by convexly rounded corners substantially as illustrated. By rounding the corners in this fashion, I have found that I can avoid damage or mutilation to the fibers, as well as enhance the proper continuation in stress distribution of the contemplated force applications. Naturally, the curvature of the corners may, likewise, be varied considerably, depending on the size of the drum and the contemplated use and abuse.

The closures for my drums are similarly shaped so that the convex 'arch drum structure will not only prevent inward collapsing of their side walls but will also facilitate provisions for a far more effective seal for their opened tops since any force against the corners of the shells tend .and an internal circular bead 18 which cooperates with the upstanding terminal end sector 20 to provide a substantially horizontal or slightly beveled closure bearing or supporting flange 22. In this connection, the head 36, which is fabricated with transversely convex side edges connected together by rounded corners, is adapted to have the periphery of its lower face rest upon flange 22. Fiber,

wood or metal can be utilized for the head 16.

A locking rim 24 is adapted to encircle the upper end 14 of drum to thereby secure head 16 in a closed position on drum 1% The locking rim 24 is preferably made in two sections 26 and 28 which are connected together atone end by a link 30 and at the other end by means of a locking lever 32 of the general type shown in my Patent No. 2,382,858 or application S.N. 690,855, filed October 17, 1957. Under the circumstances, link St) is pivotally connected to section 26 by a pin '34, and at the same time pivotally connected to section 28 by pin 36. On the other hand, lever 32 is pivotally connected to section 26 by pin 38 while being similarly connected to section 28 by pin 40. As will be appreciated, the free end of lever 32 is suitably recessed as at 42 to conveniently be received by and cooperate with a laterally projecting strap 44 on section 26. The interconnection of sections: 26 and 28 is such that the rim is flexible and permitted. to be shifted laterally and outwardly when applying the rim to the container upper end 14.

Along their respective upper ends, both of the locking: rim sections 26 and 23 have associated therewith inward-- ly extending flanges 46 and 48. These flanges are adapted to engage the periphery of the upper face of the head 16' to secure the latter to the container 10. In this connec-- tion, the locking rim sections 26 and 28 are adapted toengage the underface of the flange 22 by means of flanges 5t) and 52 which are similarly beveled to provide a cam-- ming action with flange 22 in anchoring the head 16 to the container upper end. The flanges 50 and 52 terminate in diagonally extending skirts 54 and 56, respectively, which cooperate with the necked-in external circular groove of the head 18.

Thus, when the free end of lever 32 is pivoted upward ly, the rim is expanded to permit its application and re moval from the upper end 14 of the container 10. Under these circumstances, the head 16 is secured to the com tainer It) by initially resting the head upon the internal face of the flange 22 to thereby confine the container con? tents. The locking rim 24 While in its expanded. condition, is placed upon the upper end 14 of the container 10 by slipping section 26 thereon by sliding it from the position shown in phantom lines to solid lines, as illustrated: in FIG. 8. The flanges 46 and 50, together with skirti 5'4, cooperate with the associated surfaces of the upper end 14 of container it) to permit section 26 to be prop.-- erly mounted. The sec-tion 28 is then pivoted downward ly and suitably manipulated such that its flanges 48 and. 52 with skirt 56 loosely embrace the associated sectors. of the upper end 14 of the container 10. At such time the lever 32 is pivoted downwardly to ultimately engage with the strap 4-4. Under such circumstances, the lock-- ing rim 24 is contracted to thereby lock the two sections; 26 and 28 around the upper end 14 of the container 10- while creating relatively high compressive stresses to this. end and exposing itself, at the same time, to tension. Accordingly, the locking rim 24 will serve to hold the head 16 in place with respect to the container 10. As dis-- closed in my aforesaid patent, the pivot points 38 and. 4% are arranged out of alignment with each other so that the pin 44) is positioned lower than the pin 38 when the lever is locked so that any expansive force or pressures applied to the locking rim 24 will tend to lock rather than: open the lever.

The transversely convex and arch-like configuration of the container 10 provides for better sealing or fit between the closures and the containers since any force exerted; against the corners of the containers will induce the side; Walls to bow outwardly into tight engagement with the closures. The convex sides and the rounded corners of the container 19 when supported inwardly by the con-- templated fiber, metal or wood heads will thereby provide. for a mechanically strong and tight closure. As an ex ample of further closure arrangements contemplated by my invention, reference is now made to FIG. 6 wherein a fiber or metal closure 16' having the illustrated con-- figuration is adapted to be advantageously associated. with the upper end 14 of container 10 which embodies the aforedescribed transversely convex sides connected together by rounded corners. The locking rim 24', resembling in most respects rim 24 mentioned in the above, is cooperable with surfaces of closure 16' and container 10' to suitably secure the closure in a locked position and adequately enclose the container contents.

As will be appreciated, the particular cooperation and configuration of the disclosed closure and container permits the utilization of seals and gaskets to create hermetic conditions and thereby minimize container content contamination and the like. Thus, in the construction illustrated in FIG. 9, which in substantially all respects 5 is identical to FIG. 3, I may employ a liner 60 between the closure 16 and container as shown for purposes of providing a hermetic seal between these parts. To this end, this liner may be formed from a fibrous, resinous or metallic sheet material. In FIG. 10, which illustrates in substance that structure contained in E6. 6, I employ a further seal between closure 16' and container iii. In this connection, a liner 62 of corrugated or bellows configuration for facilitating liner expansion and thus prevent liner rupture when the container contents are turned upside down is arranged as shown. This liner 62, which may be formed from a suitable fibrous, resinous or metallic sheet material, is employed in conjunction with a sealing gasket 6-4 compressed and disposed within the space between the closure 16' and top edge of the container 10'. As will be appreciated, this gasket may be formed from a suitable rubber or resinous material.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that I have provided an improved fiber container having a plurality of sides and which is economical in the utilization of space. Furthermore, I have provided a rugged and strong container which can withstand the use and abuse normally encountered in shipping and storage. At the same time, I have contributed to the art a removable closure which provides for a superior lit and substantially tight non-sifting seal with the container.

Modification may, of course, be made in the illustrated and described embodiments of my invention without departing from the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

'1. An improved fiber drum comprising a tubular body having a plurality of sides and made of wound laminated layers of fibrous material, each side of said body being transversely convex, and the corners joining said sides together being rounded, a closure fixedly secured to one end of said body and a removable closure at the other end thereof, said removable closure having a periphery including transversely convex sides, and the corners joining the sides of the periphery of the removable closure being rounded, the periphery of the removable closure being in close proximity with surfaces of said body whereby forces applied transversely to said drum cause said body to tightly engage the periphery of the removable closure; a locking rim assembly releasably securing said removable closure to said one end of said body, said locking rim assembly comprising an expansible split rim including a first section and a second section, each of said sections having at least one transversely convex side and a pair of rounded corners spaced from one another and located at the ends of the side of said sections, means hinging said sections to one another such that said sections will swing from a first position at which said sections are disposed in a common plane to a second position at which the respective sections are disposed in planes at an angle with respect to one another, said first position being a locking position and the second position being an expanded position, said means including a link means pivotally connecting one pair of adjacent ends of said sections and a shiftable locking lever means pivotally connecting the other pair of associated ends of said sections, and said sections being adapted to be mounted on and-removed from said one end of said body when in an expanded position and adapted to tightly embrace said drum at said other end and releasably secure said removable closure to said drum when in a locking position.

2. The invention, in accordance with claim l, wherein said tubular body is formed with an inwardly extending groove and internal bead adjacent said other end thereof, said removable closure is disc-shaped with the periphery thereof adapted to rest on said bead, each of said sections includes an inwardly extending flange adapted to overlap the periphery of said removable closure and further includes an inwardly formed projection to fit into and along the groove in said body, and when said sections are in said locking position, said locking rim assembly is adapted to be tensioned to force the periphery of said removable closure against said internal bead of said body with the flange and projection of the sections holding the removable closure in tight sealing relationship with the body.

3. The invention, in accordance with claim 2, wherein said link means and locking lever means are so constructed and arranged with respect to said sections that when said locking lever means is pivoted to a first open position said sections are adapted to swing to their expanded position thereby permitting one of said sections to he slipped onto said other end of said body With its flange engaging the periphery of the removable closure and its projection disposed in the groove of the body, then enabling the other section to swing to the common plane position over the remainder of said other end of the body thereby permitting the flange of this section to engage the periphery of the removable closure and the projection of this section to fit into the groove of the body, and when the locking lever means is then closed the locking rim assembly forces the periphery of the removable closure against said internal bead of said body with the flange and projection of the sections holding the removable closure in tight sealing relationship with the body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,992,182 Buist Feb. 26, 1935 2,304,539 Carpenter Dec. 8, 1942 2,714,469 Carlson Aug. 2, 1955 2,884,176 Carpenter et al Apr. 28, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,109,374 France Sept. 21, 1955 

